Are we nearly there yet? Measuring progress on your journey to agile performance management
Agile performance management requires tracking progress through regular check-ins and quality conversations, but many organizations skip measurement systems to reduce paperwork. Metrics, trends, and insights reveal whether your shift to agile practices is creating engagement and driving toward high-performance culture.
10 (scientifically-proven) tips for being a better boss
Discover 10 scientifically-proven strategies to become a better boss, from understanding individual employee needs to shifting from performance management to performance development. These evidence-based recommendations, rooted in Gallup data and organizational research, help leaders meet modern workforce expectations and improve organizational performance.
What more can we do to promote women in tech?
Despite Norway’s progressive gender equality policies, women remain underrepresented in tech leadership roles, with only 17% of female leaders in Norwegian tech companies. Research shows that increasing women in leadership positions boosts company profitability, yet systemic barriers persist even in countries with strong equality measures.
“We use data insights to inform priorities in our people and talent agenda,” says law firm HR Director
Gowling WLG’s HR Director explains how the law firm uses data insights to prioritize its people and talent agenda, helping them climb the Best Workplaces rankings. The firm maintains strong culture through mergers by establishing shared values and focusing on communication and collaboration around strategy.
Let’s get the ball rolling on mental health in the workplace
HR professionals need to create a workplace culture that encourages employees to disclose mental health conditions. With one in four UK workers experiencing mental health issues annually, opening lines of communication enables employers to provide necessary support and reasonable adjustments while improving productivity and retention.
Book review: Employee Engagement – A Little Book of Big Ideas
This book review examines “Employee Engagement – A Little Book of Big Ideas” by Jamsine Gartner, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. The book addresses widespread workplace disengagement by exploring five spheres of engagement—company, work, team, network, and society—offering practical checklists for HR directors and business professionals seeking to boost employee commitment and productivity.
Six HR archetypes driving digital change
HR professionals are emerging as key drivers of digital transformation, with six distinct archetypes ranging from traditional “Conventionalists” to innovative “Provocateurs.” A survey of 550 HR leaders reveals that while HR sees itself as having low influence in shaping change, those adopting strategic and activist roles are successfully positioning their organizations for digital success.
Getting back on the right track – the hidden benefits of training for a charity walk
Training for a charity walk while managing Addison’s Disease offers unexpected professional benefits beyond fundraising. The physical challenge helps counter workplace perceptions about illness and allows you to control your own narrative during the return-to-work process.
Book review: The Resilience Pocketbook
The Resilience Pocketbook delivers practical tips and techniques across 110 bite-sized pages to help managers and team leaders build personal and organizational resilience. Covering four dimensions of resilience—physical, mental, emotional and social—the handbook provides accessible self-assessment tools and psychological techniques for navigating workplace challenges. Well-presented and immediately actionable, it’s a useful resource for HR professionals and business leaders seeking to strengthen their resilience and that of their teams.
When does going the extra mile become a damaging behaviour?
Going the extra mile through organizational citizenship behavior can boost productivity and career prospects, but research reveals significant downsides including emotional exhaustion and reduced personal time that may outweigh the benefits for employees.
HR analytics: how London boroughs shared data and saved money
London boroughs collaborated through the Workforce Planning Group to share HR data and benchmark performance, enabling councils facing 30% budget cuts to identify savings opportunities and improve workforce efficiency. This data-sharing initiative helped public sector organizations make informed decisions about service delivery and staffing costs.
Organisation design: it’s time to disrupt our approaches
Traditional organization design approaches are too slow and inflexible for today’s rapidly changing business environment. A new Agile-based methodology prioritizes teams and shared purpose over lengthy documentation and processes, enabling organizations to create value faster while remaining competitive.
Stamping out sexism: why kicking high heels off office dress codes is still important
UK MPs ruled that businesses can require women to wear high heels at work, dismissing calls to ban the practice from office dress codes. The decision exemplifies how modern workplace sexism persists in subtle, covert forms that often go unaddressed.
7 things you need to know about project governance in HR
Project governance is essential for successful HR technology initiatives, helping organizations avoid decision-making delays, scope creep, and budget overruns. Key considerations include establishing clear decision-making authority, defining what governance means for your team, and avoiding unnecessary processes that constrain agility.
7 things we’ve learnt from our analytics and data month
Discover seven key learnings on how HR can better leverage people data and analytics for business results. Insights cover automation strategy, data transparency, cross-functional collaboration, trust-building, and overcoming data accuracy challenges from industry experts and researchers.
The case for and against… soft benefits
Soft benefits like flexible work policies, professional development, and wellness perks help build positive workplace culture and attract top talent. As employee priorities shift toward work-life balance, companies using non-traditional benefits stand out in competitive talent markets.
5 things you need to know about gender pay gap reporting
UK employers with 250+ employees must report gender pay gap data on government portals and their websites, including mean and median pay differences, bonus pay gaps, and workforce distribution across pay quartiles. While narrative commentary isn’t legally required, including an action plan is recommended to address pay gaps and avoid negative PR.
Let’s get political: harnessing post-election office debates
A recent study found 72% of UK employees feel comfortable discussing politics at work. Employers can harness these conversations constructively by creating open, respectful workplace environments that encourage productive debate and build trust among colleagues.
5 things about presenteeism you don’t know
Presenteeism, where employees work while sick, costs twice as much as absenteeism yet its impact depends on illness severity. Organizations risk prolonging recovery and increasing long-term absence by stigmatizing sick leave, while job importance and workplace culture significantly influence employees’ decisions to work while ill.
System selection: how to make the right choice
Selecting the right HR system requires careful consideration of your organization’s unique needs rather than relying on general recommendations. With expanding options across all company sizes, the modern HR technology market offers more flexibility than the traditional tiered framework, making it essential to approach vendor selection with open questions and proper evaluation criteria.
